Singing twins nearly land on 'X Factor' with help from a caring teacher

Lately it's become fashionable to bash teachers for nearly all the ills of education and our children. But today, to give a sense how some educators go above and beyond to help kids, I give you the story of Judy McMahon of Banyan Creek Elementary in Delray Beach.

"She's an angel," said Rashad Gardenhire.

"Our angel," said Tashad Gardenhire.

Rashad and Tashad, 20, are twins with a dream. They want to sing professionally and hit the musical big time. With the help of the former teacher they call "Momma J," they're getting closer to a breakthrough.

After nearly landing on the upcoming season of "The X Factor" and a short stretch when they were homeless and slept in a park, Rashad and Tashad are now living with McMahon and her husband. She helped them get jobs at The Arts Garage in Delray Beach. They're rehearsing with professional musicians and will perform in concert Sept. 19.

"I don't know where we'd be without her," said Rashad.

Said Tashad: "She's the closest thing I've had to a real mom."

Their story begins at Banyan Creek. In second grade, Tashad would sing on the cafeteria stage during lunch period. McMahon was struck by his infectious spirit and talent. The next year, Tashad was in McMahon's third-grade class, where she learned of his troubled childhood.

The Gardenhires went into the state foster system at age 4, taken from their drug-addicted mom. They landed in a home with a woman who adopted them, but McMahon bonded with the twins. "She took us on our first trip to Disney World, bought us our first Air Jordans," Rashad said. And when McMahon became a music teacher, she encouraged them to sing, act and dance.

Last November, the twins formed the singing duo Double Trouble and wanted to try out for "The X Factor." They didn't have a car, so they reached out to Momma J for help. The closest audition was in Charleston, S.C., in March. Despite her husband being seriously ill, Momma J rented a car, drove them there and sprung for a hotel.

They made it through the first round and were called back to Charleston in May for a tryout in front of the celebrity judges, including Simon Cowell. With fundraising help from her school, Momma J again rented a car and drove them.

The twins got "yes" votes from all four judges. They filled out a 563-question vetting sheet, were evaluated by producers and psychologists, and thought they were headed to Los Angeles.

But in mid-July, they were informed there was a problem.

In December 2011, Rashad was cited for driving with a suspended license in Gainesville. He failed to appear at a hearing, and was arrested in June 2012. The case is now resolved, but a court website showed he had one pending fine. Rashad said he has paid it, but he couldn't provide producers a receipt to prove it. They wouldn't be going to L.A.

The twins were crushed. But they're not giving up.

"Just being in a musical environment every day is great," Rashad said. "Singing has become our lives."

Thanks to a teacher who realizes there's more to education than just standardized tests and lesson plans.